American Craft Beer Week® — May 11-17, 2020 – the nationwide recognition of U.S. small and independent craft brewers.
2020 Oregon Brewers Festival Cancelled
Press release from OBF:
Dear Friends of the Oregon Brewers Festival,
We are devastated to share that we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Oregon Brewers Festival, originally scheduled for this July 22-25. This will be the first time in 33 years that the iconic July event will not take place.
This decision was not made lightly. At the onset of the COVID-19 virus, we were hopeful that the situation might resolve itself by late July. But the health and safety of our guests, vendors, staff and volunteers is our top priority, and we have decided the risk of holding the festival is too great. The Oregon Brewers Festival is attended by thousands of visitors from all over the world. The last thing we would want to do is hold an event that could contribute to the spread of the virus and potentially introduce a second wave of infections.
It’s important for us to make sure that when the festival returns next year, it does so in a way that’s safe and ensures our guests feel secure. We will spend this downtime carefully planning on how to hold a successful event in a post-pandemic world.
The Oregon Brewers Festival will return July 28-31, 2021. In the meantime, we urge you to support your local craft breweries and cider makers; place orders for curbside pickup or delivery and follow them on social media for the latest news on how to help. It has been estimated that up to 46% of craft breweries may be forced to close due to the pandemic. The Oregon Brewers Festival is a celebration of craft beer, and we need to make sure our breweries are still standing when this crisis has passed.
Until then, stay safe, be kind, and wash your hands. Cheers!
Founder Art Larrance and the entire Oregon Brewers Festival Team
OR – Virtual Fest Schedule Released
Join the Oregon Brewers Guild from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, for a digital dive into Oregon craft beer. Brewers will give behind-the-scenes brewery tours, explore beer styles and history, and much more. The fest is a fundraiser for the Oregon Brewers Guild.
The tentative schedule is live on their EventBrite page, and features over 30 breweries. A few highlights include a behind-the-scenes tour of The Ale Apothecary’s mythical brewery, housed in a cabin high in the hills above Bend; a Bob Ross-style beer painting class with Leikam Brewing; a live tour of pFriem Family Brewing’s new Cascade Locks Barrel-aging Facility; an in-depth chat with Oregon brewing legend John Harris of Ecliptic; live music and much more.
Need a beer for the fest? (Of course you do). Over 100 breweries across the state are offering delivery and takeout. Find a comprehensive list of options here.
Via Oregon Brewers Guild
DEADLINE EXTENDED — APPLY NOW FOR 2020 FALCONER FOUNDATION BREWING SCHOLARSHIPS TO SIEBEL INSTITUTE
Glen Hay Falconer Foundation
First of all, we hope you are healthy and sane in this time. Given the unique circumstances, we are extending the application deadline to May 15, 2020. So apply now for one of two awesome full-ride scholarships to Siebel Institute.
** LIVE YOUR DREAM – GO TO BEER SCHOOL AT SIEBEL INSTITUTE – APPLY NOW **
In collaboration with the Seibel Institute of Technology, the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation is offering two full-tuition brewing education scholarships in 2020. The scholarships are full tuition grants and come with travel/lodging stipends – at this time, the plan is still for the campus course but this could change to the online course depending on circumstances.
Both scholarships are for the World Brewing Academy (WBA) Concise Course in Brewing Technology in Chicago, November 9-20, 2020. The WBA Concise Course in Brewing Technology is a two-week intensive program that covers every topic critical to successful brewery operations. The course is designed for brewers pursuing a wider knowledge of professional brewing standards and techniques to advance their brewing careers as well as individuals planning to enter the brewing industry. The WBA Concise Course in Brewing Technology scholarship includes a $1,000 stipend to help offset travel and lodging expenses.
Applicants must be from the states Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Alaska, and Hawaii. The scholarships are open to both homebrewers and professional brewers.
Note that the full application must be received no later than May 15, 2020.
Complete details and scholarship applications are available at https://siebelinstitute.com/about-us/studying-at-siebel/scholarships
The Glen Hay Falconer Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities for professional and aspiring craft brewers to further their knowledge and expertise. The Falconer Foundation has granted 45 scholarships since 2004.
For more information on the Foundation please visit www.glenfalconerfoundation.org and follow us on Facebook.
Homebrew Projects to Tackle While We Wait
Homebrew Projects to Tackle While Social Distancing
Since going out for a beer simply isn’t an option right now. ( Please support local breweries by ordering delivery online, if you’re comfortable with it!) But, it’s a great time to make your own beer.
Open up that kit that’s been sitting in the closet gathering dust or order everything required by online delivery — and while you wait for gumption, inspiration, or shipping, Vinepair has plenty of reading recommendations to keep you occupied, too.
Via Vinepair
25 Years of Old Rasputin!
Virtual Toast for Old Rasputin’s 25th Anniversary
This Saturday will mark the 25th Anniversary of the first brewing of Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout.
North Coast would love to share this event so they’ve arranged to gather virtually, this Saturday at Noon PDT, to share a “Virtual Toast” with help from their CEO Jeff Ottoboni, Brewmasters Patrick Broderick and Chuck Martins and other special guests, including North Coast President Emeritus & Co-Founder, Mark Ruedrich. The event will be held on Facebook Live
The Crafty Cask – Tippler Nation Virtual Tastings
Join Crafty Cask as they bring craft winery, distillery, brewery, and cider house tastings to you at home through our virtual tasting experiences. You’ll learn about the specific type of tipple they’re sipping on for each event, get introduced to amazing craft makers from around the country, and often hear from the makers and other industry professionals themselves. And, of course, you’ll get a chance to ask questions, meet new friends, and support these amazing small craft businesses directly. Check out their calendar of events and join any or all!
Via The Craft Cask
Time To Raid The Beer Collection!
As the World Shelters in Place, Rare Beer Lovers Raid Their Collections
By EVAN RAIL
The other night, I did something unusual: I opened a 2009 bottle of 3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze.
The weird part wasn’t that I chose a spontaneously fermented beer from Belgium: Although I do mostly consume Czech lagers, I happily drink most styles. But that particular beer from my own cellar was one that dated from before the 2009 disaster that shuttered one of Belgium’s favorite lambic breweries for several years. It was not just from Belgium. It was not just sour. It was not just old. It was a truly rare bottle from a different era, one of a very limited number that remain anywhere, and a real collector’s item among connoisseurs.
Via Vinepair
Virtual Tours of Breweries, Distilleries, and Wineries
Vinepair’s Best Virtual Tours of Breweries, Distilleries, and Wineries
Close to 300 million Americans are currently in stay at home mode.
These measures have left many of us seeking new and novel forms of entertainment. Some enjoy virtual happy hours with friends, while others have elevated those experiences by introducing virtual drinking games to new and old friends. Pretty much all of us are drinking more, with many taking advantage of alcohol delivery services for the first time. But while physical travel is impossible right now, you can escape your four walls via virtual tourism.
Via VinepairVia VinepairVia Vinepair
Where you can order beer to-go in Houston
HOUSTON – With the news that dine-in service would be prohibited due to the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a temporary waiver that allows restaurants to include alcohol beverages in takeout and delivery orders.
All alcohol included in takeout or delivery orders must be sold in the original container that was sealed by the manufacturer of the beverage, according to the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission.
Under the relaxed policy, the customer must not be intoxicated and must present valid proof of their identity that confirms they are at least 21 years old when the order is delivered.
According to TABC, there is no required food-to-alcohol ratio.
EaterHouston compiled a list of all restaurants offering cocktail kits, wine, and beer deliveries in Houston.
Via Click2Houston
Dog helps winery deliver orders during Covid-19
The Hagerstown winery employs Soda Pup for doggy curbside delivery
Via The Herald-Mail
Social Drinking in a World of Social Distancing
In the era of social distancing, many drinkers are leaning into technology to stay connected with friends and loved ones. From virtual happy hours to online wine classes, and teleconferenced game nights to an Instagram Live nightclub, we’re finding new ways to socialize over a glass (or two) with our social circles even when we can’t be in the same place.
Then there’s our REALLY secret ingredient
The maker of saké brand Dassai, Asahi Shuzo Co., has asked the Japan Century Symphony Orchestra to compose a piece of music that will be played in the brewery during the fermentation and maturation processes. The song, to be written by composer Kaoru Wada following a visit to the brewery, will be called Dassai-Megaki, and is expected to be completed by this summer.
Brewdog Reports Theft of Trailer Load of Beer Worth £150K
Scottish Brewery BrewDog reported the theft of an entire trailer load of beer, worth £150,000, from a motorway service station in Cheshire.
In a tweet on March 24th, BrewDog co-founder James Watt explained that the crime occurred on the way to the brewer’s online distribution center.
The beer, believed to be cans of Punk IPA, was taken from the trailer while it was parked at the Moto Lymm services in Cheshire on Tuesday at around 7:45am.
Really? 7:45 in the morning (rush hour most places) and no one saw a team of crooks unloading 26 pallets of beer from a truck parked at a gas station?
Watt said that there would be a temporary shortage of the beer online due to the theft, but said every effort would be made to increase the stock.
BrewDog’s website is now showing the beer as in stock.
Oregon Brewers Festival still on for end of July…so far
Hey friends, a message re: this summer’s Oregon Brewers Festival. As of right now, the festival is still happening as scheduled. We recognize this is an evolving situation and we will continue to update you with any changes. In the meantime, please continue to support your local breweries, beer bars and bottle shops. We need to make sure they’re still here when this crisis is over. We hope to raise a pint together soon. Take care, stay safe, and wash your hands!
Join in the discussion on OBF Facebook